Lesson 1 – Effective negotiation

September 27, 2017
Summary
Making, accepting and refusing offers while negotiating

The topic of this lesson is successful negotiations. You will:

  • role play negotiating with bosses, landlords, customers and parents
  • focus on ways to make, accept and refuse offers
  • learn phrases to explore options when there is no agreement
  • practise saying contractions while trying to come to an agreement.

In every negotiation, we need a good opening :

A: Thank you for coming, Mr B. It is a lovely morning, isn’t it?

B: Ya, blue sky and white cloud. OK, shall we get down to business?

A: Sure.

A: What do you think about the contract?

B: Hmm.Do you want my honest opinion?

A: Yes, of coz.

Then we may accept part of the offer and follow giving refuse :

B: We’re interested in cooperating with your company. However, the problem is the price. I am afraid we can’t go that high.

A then playing for time + refuse :

A: I though we agreed on that. I am sorry, but that’s the best price we can offer.

 

Then one side need to making offer :

B: I see. We have a limited budget, I am afraid. But what if you provide extra manpower for us during the rush hours?

A then asking clarification question(s):

A: Can you be a little more specific?

A: What exactly do you have in mind?

 

B then answer / making request again:

B: OK, well, if we extend our cooperation to 3 years, will you offer us a discount?

A: Hmm. That’s a fair suggestion.

A: I don’t see any problem with that.

A: I think we can agree to that.

B then can making another request :

B: Great! In that case, we’d like you to make  another appointment for signing the contract at week of next week, if possible.

A: I’m afraid that we cannot offer the promotion price to you if you sign the contract after next Tue. For your case, we can guarantee that you can revoke the contract within 2 weeks even you have signed it.

B: That should be fine.

 

A then making another request :

A: We’ll make another appointment for you at next Mon, is that all right?

B: Actually, I’d rather consult my boss first, if possible.

A: That sounds reasonable. However, we’ll expect you to give us your decision before this Sat.

B: I don’t see any problem. So, I’ll get back to you on that.

A: Great! I think we’ve got a deal.

This is the end of my example.

 

Now let me make a list to conclude what I have learnt from the lesson:

  1. Opening a negotiation
    • Shall we get down to business?
    • What do you think about …?
    • We’re interested in … However, the problem is  ….
  2. Playing for Time
    • You’ve given me a lot to consider
    • I’ll have to consult my … first.
    • Give us some time to think about it, please.
    • Can I get back to you on that?
  3. Making Request
    • If we …. will you…?
    • Great, in this case, we’d like (sby.) to…..
    • We’d rather (do sth…), if possible.
    • We’ll expect you to…
  4. Making Offers
    • We can (guarantee)….
    • If you …. we will ….
    • How about if ….?
    • What if …. ?
  5. Accept Offers
    • That sounds reasonable.
    • That should be all right
    • That should be fine
    • That’s a fair suggestion
    • I think we can agree to that.
    • I don’t see any problem with that.
  6. Refusing Offers
    • I’m sorry, but that’s the best we can do.
    • We’re not prepared to (do that).
    • That won’t work for us, I’m afraid.
    • I am afraid we can’t
  7. Asking Clarification Questions
    • I am sorry, I thought we agreed on that.
    • Can you be a little more specific?
    • What exactly do you have in mind?

Thank for reading and I hope my sharing can help both of us.

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